Product DescriptionHardcover. 421pp. Very Good Condition. this book is for everyday player who has been puzzled by "off days," come irritable after a game, suffered from his game in any way. ... Read more

Product DescriptionStill a touchstone of contemporary avant-garde poetry today, this 35th anniversary edition of John Ashbery's second book celebrates an American poet who has won a Pulitzer Prize, a National Book Award, and a National Book Critics Circle Award. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

When it's good, it's very very good. But when it's bad...
John Ashbery, The Tennis Court Oath (Wesleyan, 1962)

Reading Ashbery's The Tennis Court Oath probably doesn't rank high on the list of many people's favorite things to do. But reading it while you've immersed yourself in a glut of Charles Simic is an especially bad idea. Simic is the quintessential surrealist writing in English today; Ashbery is sort of a weird, fuzzy cross between surrealism, dada, and L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E whose work is, by turns, incomprehensibly unreadable and quite good.

I opened the book to a random page and start quoting from the top left...

"You often asked me after hoursThe glass pinnacle, its upkeep and collapseKnowing that if we were in a barn Straw panels would... Confound itTe arboretum is bursting with jasmine and lilacAnd all I can smell here is newsprint..."("The New Realism")

Anyone who wants to take a stab at explaining that, by all means, go ahead. I cannot help but compare this stuff (as I did in a recent Jackson Mac Low review) to the work of John M. Bennett, which is completely nonsensical but SOUNDS like it shouldn't be. Reading John M. Bennett is like understanding how to read and pronounce a completely foreign language without understanding a single word; even when you have no idea what's going on, if you read it out loud, you can still do so smoothly and put inflections in all the right places to make it sound great. With this, the reader is reduced to stumbling through, trying to grasp some semblance of meaning in order to make it scan. (And we wonder why people ask "what does it mean?" when confronted with poetry. lord save us.)

But when Ashbery is on, he is quite on, and his work takes on a spectre of imagism; not enough to make the book worth buying, mind you, but enough to make it worth borrowing from the library. The more lucid sections of "Europe," for example, where Ashbery dispenses with the easy, wannabe dadaism and gets down to his subject (Beryl Markham), give the reader an idea of why Ashbery, not too long before this, was selected by the Yale Series of Younger Poets. But, as with many poetry collections, you wade through some swine to get to the pearls. In this case, they're often in the same poems. ** ½

The Unbroken Oath:Ashbery's Neglected Masterpiece
Wesleyan University Press has reissued a volume in its series of "classics" which deserves a place on the shelves of everyone interested in poetry in the last forty-five years.THE TENNIS COURT OATH is a series of experiments in poetry which are as daring and fresh today asthey were in 1962, when the book (Ashbery's second) first appeared.Thoughthe book contains some often anthologized pieces--"Faust" and"They Dream Only of America" for instance--the book reprints theless familiar "America," "Rain," and the 110 part poem"Europe." It is these more obscure poems that seem to offer thebest glimpse of the possibilities of Ashbery as a poet as well as thepossibilities for language and poetry in general.Reading these poems inthe light of Ashbery's interceding success as a poet, the book emerges as akind of rough blueprint for his career.No one who knows Ashbery's poem"Litany" (in AS WE KNOW, Viking, 1979) can look at the paralleltext of "To the Same Degree" in OATH and not see it as thefledgling form of the later work.Even "Europe," which theauthor himself admits was a kind of failure, demonstrates the daring searchfor a method of communication which Ashbery described (in 1962)as"perhaps a new kind of poetry which tries to use words in a newway....to use words abstractly as an abtract painter would usepaint....This has nothing to do with 'Imagism' or using words because oftheir sound--words are inseparable from their meaning and cannot be said toexist apart from it.My aim is to give the meaning free play and thefullest possible range [in an] attempt to get a greater, more complete kindof realism.""Europe," if it is a failure, is a brilliantone, saturated with the possibilities of language which dares to venture,as T. S. Eliot put it, at "the frontiers of consciousness, wheremeaning fails but feelings still persist."It is that sense ofexperimentation, of the avante-garde and the seemingly limitlesspossibilities for the language of poetry that the complete text of OATH,now reprinted, captures and presents to the reader.Those already familiarwith Ashbery's work will find the book an indispensible high-point in hiscanon, those unfamiliar with Ashbery will see a different kind of poetry,rife with new ideas and new hopes for relating language to the world itseeks to describe and of which it is part. John Ashbery's TENNIS COURTOATH, like his SELECTED POEMS (Viking, 1985) is simply a must for anyserious reader of late Twentieth-century and contemporary poetry.
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Product DescriptionThis is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Filled with action photographs to illustrate the exercises and techniques, this book distills contemporary scientific research into easily accessible principles for designing and implementing tennis training programs. Sample programs provide a highly targeted, efficient, practical, and individualized framework for every competitive level, including junior, collegiate, professional, adult, and senior. Science is brought to the court with clarity and precision, informing and transforming on-court performance.

product arrived in time, no trouble no hassles.
The only trouble I had was that I ordered three books at the same time and checked 'em all out at the same time, I assumed that they would all have overnight delivery but only one from amazon had over night delivery and the other two arrived normally which was late for me. I wish amazon could change that.
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What are the single most important variables in racquet performance? What racquet and string features combine to provide the most control, comfort, and feel? How can a player create maximum spin? This informative primer answers these and other elusive equipment and performance-related questions that perennially plague hackers and experts alike. A simplified, layperson's companion to the authors' previous work, The Physics and Technology of Tennis, this conveniently sized guide to selecting racquets and strings includes bite-sized explanations of the possible expectations of equipment choices.

GREAT INFO
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK.TOO BAD THE TENNIS PROS AND TENNIS WRITERSHAVE APPARENTLY FAILED TO READ THIS.IF THEY HAD THEY WOULD STOP WRITING FICTION ABOUT TENNIS BALLS,STRING,AND RACQUETS.HOWEVER THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE PAID TO DO;IE SALE PRODUCTS.

Good but very technical
This book was very helpful for me in deciding on what I should look for in a tennis racquet that would best suit my style and level of play.It also helped my understanding of how tight vs loose stringing affects the ball rebound off the racquet.In fact, I found myself at home watching one of Rafa Nadal's matches where he was consistently overhitting his shots and I thought to myself, his strings might be too loose.Amazingly, within a minute or so of my thinking this, Rafa went over and got another racquet!
The only downside for me was that I found myself skimming through certain parts of the book that were more technical and/or detailed than I liked.
I recommend this book to anyone wanting to shop for a new tennis racquet or strings, and for those wanting a clearer understanding of HOW and WHY the physical properties of the racquet, strings, and court affect your shot-making.

A real dissapoint
I am a physicist and play some tennis. I think this book won't help your tennis much.

I had the previous "physics and technology of tennis" by the same authors, and I felt this one is not an update of the previous book. It's more like a summary but the conclusion is for some reason different. For people who didn't read the big book, this book discusses the technical aspects of tennis and does not make much effort to connect these scientific facts to personal experiences and techniques. The advices which can be drawn from this book is surprisingly limited. Basically, choose a racquet you feel good when you are hitting the ball (instead of the air in a shop), and string doesn't really matter much. However, if you love tennis and is a noob in physics maybe this book can teach you something.

To be on the critical side, some of the conclusions in the book looks suspicious and are drawn without evidence. It claimed the ideal racquet weighs ~350 grams and toward head heavy. I think for the balance it would be way too heavy. The reason provided in the book is vague and imprecise. It also states that different string materials can be simulated by different tension of the same material without any obvious reason. The biggest dissapointment of all, in the book it very often states that there is an obvious discrepancy between the physics they describe and how pro players claim or feel, and they take the view that the feel is subjective and can be explained away. This view isn't half bad if you can offer sound objective scientific advice on how to achieve certain things, but all that remains in the book seems more like scientific trivia to me, which are all small (but true) facts here and there, sometimes subtle, but are never quite connected to how you play.

Great low-tech intro
Despite the title, there are no equations and the technical details are all descriptive, but there's lots of useful information. A great first book to read on technical aspects of tennis. If the title suggests you will find hard numbers and research-level information here, you might be disappointed. Otherwise it's really a great book with lots of practical physics- and engineering-based
good advice on everything from racquets and balls to shots and serves, delivered at an almost non-technical level: think physics for poets!

Truly technical
Technical to a fault, but exacting. Provides interesting, sometimes counter-intuitive information, e.g., on how the tennis ball bounces, and how racquets really perform.
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Product DescriptionThe singular, authorative source for skill-enhancingdrills, this guide is equally useful for begining or advanced playersof all ages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Disappointed With the Tennis Ball Machine Drills
When I bought this book I was hopeful that the chapter on the Ball Machine drills would help me to use my new ball machine more efficiently.I was disappointed by the fact that the chapter was geared for more than one player and the machine, rather than just one player and the machine.I believe that most of the drills can be revised so that they work with just one player, but it didn't really contain what I was looking for.I didn't feel there was that much value added to when I go out with the machine before reading this book.

Incredible number of great drills
While I agree with the other reviewer who said that the drills were tailored to a clinic setting, I have found that many of the drills can easily be adapted to as few as two people. The value in the book is in learning the concepts that each drill is meant to teach.If you need work on a particular part of your game, there is most likely a drill that can help you.

The book explains each drill in text and with a clear diagram of how the drill should be conducted (where players should be positioned, where the balls should be hit).The text portion also gives variations on the drill that can be used depending on the skill level of the players.It gives suggestions on how to make it easier for less advanced players, and suggestions for making it more challenging for more advanced players.

I teach clinics, so it's obviously a good reference for me to keep my clinics fresh, but I also refer to it for my own practice with my mixed doubles partner.

The overall content of the book is excellent, but having read through most of the drills, I've found portions where the editing fell short.There were a couple of drills where the text portion didn't match the diagram, and it looked like the description was for a different drill.But overall, the information in this book is extremely useful.Of all the tennis books I have, this is the one to which I refer the most.

great basic catalog of useful drills
This bookis a comprehensive, easy-to-read list of drills for all levels. The pictures and clear directions simplify my coaching andserve as an invaluable resource on the fly!Buy this book if you don't have oodles ofextratime to read fluffy descriptions and just need creative basic drillideas to serve as a backbone for your practices.

Many drills for the clinic setting
I purchased this book in hopes of finding a tome filled with qualitytennis drills for two people or a player and coach. The drills in this bookare, however, arranged for more than two people such as one would find in atennis clinic setting. Nonetheless, the drills seemed fine and there wereseveral for each stroke.
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Product DescriptionYou have taken your first step to success in learning table tennis with the purchase of this book. Table Tennis: Steps to Success combines the knowledge and experience of master teacher Larry Hodges with the latest developments in learning how to become a proficient player.

Table Tennis: Steps to Success is a unique guide designed to maximize your table tennis progress. It is a breakthrough in sport skill instruction through its development of complete learning progressions—the steps to success. You will climb 15 steps on your way to table tennis success. Each step (chapter)

• explains why the concept or skill is important,

• identifies the keys to correct technique,

• helps you correct common errors,

• explains how to practice each skill in realistic ways,

• lists specific performance goals for each drill,

• gives you a summary checklist for evaluating proper technique, and

• lets you proceed at your own pace.

Each of the steps you will take is an easy transition from the one before. Your first few steps provide a solid foundation of basic skills and concepts. As you progress you will learn how to choose the proper stroke to match your various table tennis needs—whether for quickness, power, deception, or just fun.As you approach the top of your climb to success you will have gained confidence in your table tennis ability and experienced the satisfaction of becoming an accomplished player. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

good beginning tt book
good beginners book covering basic forward hand, backhand, ect.but, does not cover some needed pointers. however, i haven't seen any book that covers all the aspects of each of the strokes adequately.therefore, highly recommended.

EXCELLENT TABLE TENNIS BOOK
This book will tell you everything that you ever wanted to know about how to improve your table tennis game. Easy to read, and has many helpful drawings to illustrate the point being made. Covers the basics as well as advanced concepts. Each chapter contains many drills to help the reader master the different types of strokes and strategies.

OK, but better elseware
I could see that this could be a good book if you were brand new to table tennis and had a coach. Good drills for practicing with similarly leveled players. However, I feel book does not accurately describe how to truely improve your stroke. Descriptions tend to be vague and leave it to the player to experiment to get the result they are looking for. The danger for the player without a coach is that common early bad habits that are effective for begginers will become engrained. Also, the strategy section is not as good as in other TT books.

Excellent Book
I found the book to be very helpful and informative.I have just begun playing competitively for the past year and found that the graphics/steps really have helped my game. I'd recommend this book to anyone who is just developing their game.I have bought other table tennis books, but they lacked the graphics this book has, so I am very happy with this purchase.

The Best Table Tennis Book For Beginners-Intermediates
This book is one of the best book on table tennis that I have ever read.The clear and concise text makes this book very readable.While you may not turn into a table tennis champion overnight, following the instructions by Mr. Hodges by disciplined practice, a newcomer to the sport can learn the game, but it can also be used as a reference for intermediate players to correct their stroke or to improve it.This book is useful not only because it explains the different strokes but it also contains sections on physical training and tactics against different style of play.Table Tennis: Steps to Success is a must-have in any table tennis player's library.
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Product DescriptionIncrease strength, power, agility, and quickness and take your game to a much higher level. Complete Conditioning for Tennis details how to make the most of your training time with exercises, drills, and programs designed to

assess your fitness level,

improve footwork,

increase speed and flexibility,

enhance stamina,

boost mental focus, and

prevent common injuries.

Additionally, the 90-minute DVD takes you on court and into the gym to demonstrate the drills and exercises used by the pros.

Endorsed by the United States Tennis Association, Complete Conditioning for Tennis is simply the best guide to developing the highest level of athleticism for success in the sport. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Right on Target
This book is REALLY comprehensive and covers every aspect of conditioning you can imagine. Major chapters include:

Also included, a short section on injury prevention- only a page and a half on tennis elbow though (suggest Treat Your Own Tennis Elbow for more on that).

Just a ton of information here and I can't see anybody who plays tennis reading this book and not coming away with at least a few nuggets of wisdom.Get this book if you want to get in better physical shape to play tennis or if you're a coach and want more training tips and ideas.

Dissapointed, but with decent content
I was excited when i got this book, but dissapointed when I opened it. I purchased this book to find a tennis workout program and what i found was a bunch of pictures describing various exercises. I could have got this information online in dozens of different websites. I found no information new and i still have to create a fitness program for myself. All this book has is a bunch of scattered information, the authors should have tied it all together with a comprehensive fitness program at the end, which would have made this book great. This book is ok at best.

Comprehensive, too much for some readers?
This is an excellent book for tennis conditioning. Most readers would have to pick and choose which things to employ as only the most dedicated athlete would find the time for everything. Excellent as a comprehensive survey.

Conditionning for tennis
What a book! According to me, it is the best book to help an independant player to progress by himself. The explanations are very clear, simple. And the CD is fabulous: fabulous to watch the exercices, fabulous to avoid wrong positions, wrong movements,...Thank you very much for this conditionning Bible.

Complete Conditioning for Tennis
Like the title states, this is a very complete and thorough conditioning book designed for the needs of the tennis player. With chapters on condition assesment, flexibility, strength, agility and others, a complete routine can be established that players of all skill levels will enjoy. I strongly recommened this book for players, or parents of, looking to compete at the highest levels. Being a 1-2 times a week player, some parts don't apply to me but will the most serious. The majority of this book can be used by players of every skill and dedication level.
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Product DescriptionThe new edition of this bestseller in hardcover features never-before-published, all-new inside info on the money, personalities and politics of pro-tennis: Jimmy, Monica, Boris, Martina, et al.Now in paper.Amazon.com ReviewThough John Feinstein made his mark writing about basketball-- A Season on the Brink is one ofthe top sports books ever--he's always had a love of tennis. For HardCourts, he spent nearly 15 months interviewing the players, coaches,managers, tournament officials, agents and fans -- more than 200 people inall -- that make-up the international tennis circuit. What he found wasn'talways as pretty as a Pete Sampras backhand.While Feinstein touches on the scandal and corruption that is as much a partof tennis as any other professional sport, he offers revealing profiles ofthe greatest players and a celebratory tribute to the sport's eleganttradition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Real Life On The Tour
Though it now reads like a history of early '90's tennis, when this book first came out I pored over it with excitement to find out what the lives of my favorite players were like. All the big names of fifteen years ago are here: Sampras, Navratalova, Selles, Graf, Courier, Agassi, Fernandez, Vicario, McEnroe, Edberg and Lendl. Great champions all. This is set over the course of one full year on the circuit, from the Australian Open in January, to the end of season tournaments that follow the conclusion of the Grand Slam series at the US Open.Anyone who wants to learn about what it takes to compete at this level of tennis can get an education here. Also someone interested in the inner workings of the tour and the agencies that govern it can find out what they want to know. And although it seems odd to say this about one of the most influential books I read when I was so into this sport, it also serves today as the record of a long-ago year in the game of tennis.

Controversial Tour of the ATP Tennis Circuit
It's a nerve wracking sport played at a high level.Different in that there's an opponent standing within yourself and across the net.

This excellent journalist brings his intensity, investigative style and chronicles the sports heroes at the turn of the '90s, both men and women.

Many of the games stars are as high-strung as their rackets.Feinstein paints them all here.
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Product DescriptionAs a coach, your success depends on the success of your players. Now you can better ensure players’ development and team performance with Coaching Tennis Successfully.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) presents this comprehensive manual with information on planning productive practices, conducting drills, developing physical and mental skills, and teaching match tactics. You’ll find ideas to prepare singles players and doubles teams for competitive matches. Plus, the book offers the best methods and helpful tips for teaching key skills:

· Footwork

· Serves

· Groundstrokes

· Overheads and volleys

With more than 670,000 members and programs that encompass all 50 states and beyond, the USTA is able to tap into the best minds and mentors in tennis coaching. Coaching Tennis Successfully synthesizes and shares that expertise to give you the winning edge! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Coaching Tennis
As a first year Coach I found this book Excellent. It taught me tennis from the Coach's perspective, rather then the players.

I had played both High School Tennis, as well as College Tennis for a Southeastern Conference school. This book helped me to understand the mental part of the game that had top be imparted to the players, as well as the refresher for the physical part. Passing on the mental toughness required for the players was critical for their future in Tennis.

coaching for dummies
As a beginning tennis coach, this book helped me immensely

Terrific stuff for the novice coach
Covers all the basics with a personal touch. Well done!

right to the point of coaching tennis
Iam a coach of a high school tennis team. I found your book right on the money. Thank you for writting it
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Product DescriptionUpdated edition of this beautiful and highly acclaimed official coffee table book which celebrates one of sport's most historic and iconic venues - from the epic matches played on Centre Court and the legends who have graced its hallowed grass to the uniquely English atmosphere of ball boys, boaters and Robinson's barley water.Packed with stunning and evocative images taken from the All England Club's own archives and items of memorabilia plucked from the Wimbledon Museum this lavish book also includes quotes and stories from some of tennis's greatest names. This new edition features some wonderful behind the scenes images from 2009 including the unveiling of Centre Court's revolutionary new retractable roof and Roger Federer's epic men's singles triumph.Winner of Best Illustrated Book at the British Sports Book Awards 2010 ... Read more

Product DescriptionMunchkin Tennis is the definitive book on teachingtennis to children ages 9 and under.This teaching method, adopted bytennis professionals worldwide, is a fun and effective way for parentsto teach their children the basics of tennis.

The singular, authoritative source for skill-enhancing drills, thisguide is equally useful for beginning or advanced players of all ages. ... Read more

Product DescriptionWhat common elements separate the best tennis players from the rest? Maximum Tennis will teach you the 10 defining characteristics that allow the top professionals to play their best.

Play from the heart. Simplify your stroke. Focus on the elements you control. As a professional player, an elite coach, and a coach of elite coaches, author Nick Saviano has seen the differences these keys can make. Saviano distills the nature of championship play into its essence, helping you play to your strengths and enjoy the game every time you step on the court. Some of the best to ever play and coach add their own examples to each of Saviano’s lessons. Contributors include Jim Courier, Chris Evert, Nick Bollettieri, Stan Smith, and many more.

Champions aren’t born; they’re made. With Maximum Tennis and hard work, you’ll be the best player you can possibly be. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Great keys to improving your tennis game.
This is a wonderful overview of some relatively simply things you can do to take your game to the next level.It's got a lot of excellent information and ideas without being overwhelming.Practical, and worth the time to read.It's written by a master coach, so he knows his stuff!

Wonderful and useful book
Of all the tennis books I have read, this is probably my favorite.My copy is now heavily notated and underlined.There is lots of useful wisdom in this book.

Fine Guide for Becoming a Player
Nick Saviano was a world-class player, top adminstrator and coach with USTA, and now consulting on his own (after the book was published). His views in this book are the templates for developing players for USA Tennis High Performance; i.e., the American system for player development. But it is a system, not an academy. And this is a book, not a personal coach. Still, it gives a wonderful template how to create a developmental program, set goals, develop style of play, customize personal tactics, prioritize training, plan a training and tournament schedule, etc. It allows players (juniors and adults) to organize and take charge of their tennis life. It is a good book for players trying to put pieces together: strokes, tactics, training, etc into a personal package. It puts together your passion for tennis, your personality, and talents into what you probably should do on the court. It may be the best book in the subfield and is a fine resource for parents and juniors (older than 12 years old) and college players. It is also an excellent resource for the serious player (development, juniors, tennis training/planning, understanding your self and game) who would like to improve his or her tennis using a long-term plan. It is obviously a great resource for coaches, too.

Tennis Players Guide to Fun with Success
I am a member of the USTA, played countless tournaments and have read many books and magizine articles during my 30 years of playing the game.Maxium Tennis, by far, offered me more information and guides on how to become all I can be by providing me with information and directions in areas I have not found any place else.The stories of Saviano's relationships with many well known professionals, are not only fun to read, but give very beneficial tips on improving your play.This book can put you on the road to reaching greater achievements then you thought possible. Have FUN! A Must to read!

A very experienced coach gives mental recommendations
Nick Saviano is an excellent coach with great credentials. Saviano attempts to improve the reader's mental outlook of tennis by focusing on 10 key subjects. Tennis instructional books are difficult due to the varied backgrounds and levels of the readers. In this respect, I thought the author did an excellent job of trying to provide information that would please everyone. What I liked most about this book were the anecdotal stories provided throughout the book. All of the stories have memorable characters. The stories range from Saviano playing late in his career against an unknown but talented Boris Becker, to his coaching experience with Courier and Agassi. While there were parts of the book I found boring like the typical summary descriptions of strokes, some parts were extremely helpful. Examples include Agassi's statement about not taking his racquet back on returns and the importance of making sure practice is fun so the athlete doesn't get mentally drained.

Overall, I would recommend this book for tennis players looking to improve their game. Still, the best book I have ever read for help is Brad Gilbert's, "Winning Ugly".
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Product DescriptionThis work looks at the construction and maintenance of grass tennis courts. Published in partnership with the All-England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon, the book is an authoritative guide on the construction and maintenance of grass tennis courts at all levels of the game. It provides comprehensive coverage of modern scientifically-based turf cultural practices and shows how they can be applied in the production and management of a natural turf surface for tennis. ... Read more